Small Business

Ever Try a Loss Leader? Maybe Now’s the Time!

Thumbnail image for Ever Try a Loss Leader? Maybe Now’s the Time! by Janice Conard April 20, 2012

Have you ever used a loss leader to get customers in your door or to your website? If you haven’t, it might be a good time to try. A loss leader, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “something (as merchandise) sold at a loss in order to draw customers.” I started thinking about loss leader strategies [...]

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Why You MUST Get Professional Help When Choosing Your Corporate Form

Thumbnail image for Why You MUST Get Professional Help When Choosing Your Corporate Form by Karen Stewart February 23, 2012

During my legal adventures since 1982, I have sometimes been asked basic questions by those new to the world of capitalism. “What should I call my business?” they ask.  “What type of entity should my new business be?” they chirp. These questions sound straightforward enough, so the answers should be straightforward, too…right?  Well, in a [...]

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Should Government Be Involved With Getting More Things ‘Made in America?’

Thumbnail image for Should Government Be Involved With Getting More Things ‘Made in America?’ by Kasey Steinbrinck February 6, 2012

Is government involvement necessary to help the U.S. economy rebound? Or is it something that will only impede the progress of free enterprise in America? That’s one of the most divisive issues in the country right now, and you’ll hear a lot of talk about such things as we get closer and closer to the [...]

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Don’t Get Sued: “Three Be’s” for Keeping Your Small Business Out of Court

Thumbnail image for Don’t Get Sued: “Three Be’s” for Keeping Your Small Business Out of Court by Janice Conard January 17, 2012

I’m not a lawyer, but I’m married to one, so I’ve heard many anecdotes about the kinds of business practices that sometimes lead to law suits. What’s surprising to me is that many of the legal issues that arise are extremely easy to avoid, especially if you follow a few simple rules I call the [...]

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Small Business Saturday – A Refreshing Idea!

Thumbnail image for Small Business Saturday – A Refreshing Idea! by Kasey Steinbrinck November 23, 2011

This Thanksgiving weekend, you could keep your normal Black Friday tradition of waiting outside a big-box chain store for the doors to open so you can fight crowds and snatch up apparent deals. Or you could sit around at home in your underwear eating leftover mashed potatoes and find the same deals. But that’s boring [...]

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Preventing Identity Theft at Your Small Business

Thumbnail image for Preventing Identity Theft at Your Small Business by Kasey Steinbrinck November 21, 2011

Identity theft isn’t just for consumers to worry about. It can happen to your business too. The financial security of customers, clients, employees as well as company assets falls on the shoulders of the small business owner, and protection should be a top priority. Developing a solid security policy and taking the right steps towards [...]

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Four Reasons Why Accepting Personal Checks Can Help Your Small Business

Thumbnail image for Four Reasons Why Accepting Personal Checks Can Help Your Small Business by Kasey Steinbrinck September 23, 2011

Your small business uses checks all the time. So why is it that so many small businesses choose not to accept personal checks from customers? Lately, there’s been a lot of debate over the burden that interchange fees put on small businesses. Also known as “swipe fees,” these are what banks charge merchants every time [...]

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Become an Entrepreneur for the Summer!

Thumbnail image for Become an Entrepreneur for the Summer! by Kasey Steinbrinck March 29, 2011

Yesterday we told you about some of the challenges students may face as they try to land a summer job. According to many experts, the chances of finding seasonal employment are starting to dwindle quickly. Most employers hire their seasonal workers by the end of  April. But when a door closes, sometimes you can find [...]

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Could Local Currency Help Small Businesses?

Thumbnail image for Could Local Currency Help Small Businesses? by Kasey Steinbrinck March 25, 2011

Ever wish you could print your own money? When you play Monopoly and have four crisp orange $500 bills tucked underneath your side of the board does it make you wish they were real? Have you ever imagined your Chuck E. Cheese tokens were actual gold? Guess what – money that isn’t really money is [...]

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